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Author
Topic: Just wanted to Introduce myself. (Read 4724 times)

I am 41 years old. I live in Southern California. I am a Surfer & Ocean lover. I am 6'1" 170.I am laid back, easy going with a great sense of humor. I am also a great cook=) I have a Military & Police background. I tested positive a few months ago, kinda sucks but dealing with it.

The format of the T Cell panel you posted is the same format as mine, even the order of the results are the same -- you must have Kaiser. I was not able to figure out which result shows the CD4%. Can you or anyone else out there tell me which figure is the CD4% on Remy's results?

I figure this is everyone's forum and maybe someone may find what you or I post as being useful. Even if it is off topic.

This has been a roller coaster for me. I have been going to a couple of weekly support groups and have gained a lot of insight and made great connections. I feel that I have come to terms with my HIV status pretty well but now I feel I am encountering a new scary stage, starting treatment. I am eager to start treatment but I am going to see family in Houston and Toronto in about two weeks. I don't feel like dealing with the initial side effects while visiting family ya know? But at the same time wouldn't it be better for me to start now instead of waiting until after Labor Day? That's my current dilemma that I'm working though.

How are you dealing? What meds did you decide to take and how are the side effects?

Roller coaster is a good way to put it. I have seeing a therapist, who is positive himself and specializes in HIV - which has been good. I want to go to a support group, but am in a "smaller" city and not ready to disclose at all -- not proud of that, but that is the way it is. I do have a very, very, supportive significant other - we've been together nine years and it has been tremendous to have her confidence and support.

I am also about to start meds - I got the prescription and went to the pharmacy for the first time on Friday. It took three pharmacy employees, with lots of questions and back and forth with insurance cards etc. -- they need to order the meds. I think I will try and find another pharmacy ...?

The process of starting meds is scary -- the feed back from my therapist and others that have had this a while is that it becomes no big deal to take the meds -- nothing to be scared of....but I think we each need to go through that process.

I am going to take Complera. I wanted a one pill/day, and the Atripla sounded like it had more chance of depression, mood changes, interrupted sleep, vivid dreams, ... again, all of which only occur in 10% of the people, but I wanted to minimize that stuff. The downside with Complera is that the VL needs to be below 100K, and the digestive issues, like really bad gas. Imperfect either way. My doctor noted that Truvada with Isentres had the fewest side effects, but it it three pills/day.

In terms of timing the start -- I am trying to time the start of my meds the last two weeks of August -- right after a colonoscopy that has been scheduled for some time, and before September when I have a number of trips for work. However, I just found out that we may have family here for a week then...so, we'll see.

The craziest part of last few months is that the week I found out I was reeling emotionally - couldn't sleep, I had a significant panic attack (never had anything like that before), and my family (siblings, nieces, etc.) all were in town (and a few at our house) that week for various reasons. On the one hand it was nice to have them around, but on the other hand it didn't leave much time for me to process the news myself. JM

As far as medicines go I wanted to take the same route as you with Complera. However, that regimen, as a first line of defense has been knocked off, because my viral load went up to 227,000 (my CD4 count also went up from 683 to 821 whew!).

I decided I'm going to take Isentress and Truvada when I am ready. I just need to fill the order at the pharmacy. Fortunately getting the medicine I need is not an issue.

I'm glad to hear from you that I'm not the only one deciding to start my meds when my situational timing is right. Others are so brave to start (or they really need to start) without regards to their plans. I also use the same process of elimantion as you in deciding which meds to take.

I am anxious to get my viral load down but I wouldn't be able to bear the initial side effects (if any) while visiting family.

I am 41 years old. I live in Southern California. I am a Surfer & Ocean lover. I am 6'1" 170.I am laid back, easy going with a great sense of humor. I am also a great cook=) I have a Military & Police background. I tested positive a few months ago, kinda sucks but dealing with it.

Welcome Remy...that profile of yours is actually VERY interesting. If only I was in SoCal hahaha...

Don't fret over it and listen to the advices of the people on the forum. Take your pills, see your doctor regularly and you'll be fine. Life goes on pretty much the same as before, as least thats my case.